Terrible News: Jim Blumenthal Passed Away Last Night

[familytoad]

JimB, I miss you already.

You welcomed my "off the cuff" invite to meet a stranger in person when I moved to the Portland area in 2006.

I was here without my family before my house sold for 9 months, and didn't have my card collection with me for most of that time.
I was reading Net54 nightly, pining for either a card show or some interaction with the hobby I have been ensconced in since 1970.

I noticed JimB's humble posts , amazing collection and the manner in which he carried himself on the board (when there was pretty regular drama and testosterone contests abound).

I thought, why not contact him to see if he would meet for coffee and talk cards (and Net54).
We did just that, at Starbucks...a couple (then) 40 ish guys playing show and tell with antique cardboard.
Jim was gracious as I showed my very proud but very pedestrian pile of cards over a latte.
Then Jim walked to his car and retrieved a small box with the best baseball cards I had ever seen before (and likely since)
Jim had a collection far above most, a Hall of Fame collector with cartons of Hall of Fame cards.

But then we put the cards away and talked. That's where Jim went to first ballot HOF status. He made me feel like a longtime friend. He was open, informative, caring and just damn cool. I knew he would be from reading his posts here, but this was a special treat.
The 90 minutes w/Jim was a small slice of time in comparison.
But it's a great feeling when you make a new friend (think about that).
I wish we had stayed in touch more regularly. Sure we shared a few emails over the years...congrats on the beautiful baby, nice cards, promises to revisit Starbucks together...and now that's impossible.

JimB, you are awesome and you are missed. All who knew you were touched by your warmth and class. Eternal blessings and happiness for you my friend!